Nut-cracking machine.



1. W. ENRIGHT. '.NUT CRACKING MACHINE. IAPPLICATION FILED DEC.29. |9|F- Lz'eoe,

Patented Sept. 17',1918.

3 SHEETS-SHEETy 1 J. WENRIGHT.

NUT CRACKING MACHINE.

APPLICATION flu-:U DEc.29. |915.

Patented Sept. 17, 1918.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 2 Il (l Il l' Il fr 1.w.ENR1GH1. NUT CRACKING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED DEC.29. I9I6.

lygwgg Patented sept. 17,1918.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 3 jg cm cfm/G kas/nom.

TED sTATas PATENT orrion.

JOHN W. ENRIGHT, 0F NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA.

N UT-CRACKIN Gr MACHINE.

To all whom z't may concern.'

Be it known that I, JOHN W. ENRTGHT, of New Orleans, in the parish of Orleans and State of Louisiana, have inventedcertain new and useful Improvements in Nut- Cracking Machines; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

The primary object of my invention is to provide an improved nut cracking machlne capable of handling nutsl of various Vsizes without requiring previous grading or sort- 1n Ik further object is to insure a uniform cracking stroke regardless of the variations inthe lengths of the nuts.

A further object is to provide improved means for clamping the individual nuts as they are received froma conveyer and conducting them into contact with the fracturing element.

As illustrated in the accompanying drawing, Figure 1 is a side elevation of a machine embodying my invention. Fig 2y is aplan view, and Figs. 3, 4 and 5 are details showing various positions of parts.

As illustrated, the frame 1- supports a main carrier 2 shown in the form of a wheel suitably mounted upon a shaft extending transversely of the frame and adapted to be rotated to cause the main carrier to rotate in the direction of the dart in Fig. 1. Mounted upon the main carrier is a series of automatic nut adjusting and clamping elements These are shown in the form of wheels individually mounted and capable of rotation upon the main carrier independently of the movement of the latter. These elements are adapted to clamp the nuts and convey them into cont-act with the cracking element.

As all of the parts 3 are of correspondincr formation a detailed description of one Wi sufiice. My object is to cause these elements 3 to oscillate, that is to impart to them a .suhstantialljv pendulum movement, the turn in one direction effecting the/clamping of the nut while the bodily advance ofthe element 3 and the nut conducts the nut into contact. with the cracking device. after which the. rotation of the wheel in the reverse direction releases the nut. I have shown the parts Il provided with weights -t on their peripheries so' that the normal position of Specicaition of Letters Patent. Patented Sept, 17, 1918, Application filed December 29, 1916. Serial No. 139,641.

the Wheel, due tov gravity, will be substantially that of the wheels A and F, Fig. 1, and as wheel B is shown in full lines. The wheel is keyed upon a shaft 11 mounted in bearings 8-81 in the main carrier 2. The end of this shaft projecting into'the bearingsS constitutes a jaw 14. A coact-ing 'jaw 16y is mounted in the bearing 8l and is movable against the tension of a spring 15.

The nuts are fed into the pockets 9' on the vcarrier 2, one of these Jpockets being ar ranged adjacent each of the clamping elements with a portion of the bearing 8 forming a part of the pocket.

I have shown the wheel formed in its periphery with wtwo oppositely disposed spiral slots 10. These are adapted to-be'engaged by pins 6 mounted upon the rim of the main carrier. As the Wheel turns on its axle to maintain the positions -of A, B and F. consequent upon the rotation of the carrier, the engagement of the pins with the slots shifts the wheel and the axle l1 to which it is keyed laterally so as to bring jaws 14 andl together to clamp the nut. The nut at this time acts to frictionally retard the wheel from turning on its axle and causes the wheel to take approximately the position indicated by the dotted lines of wheel B, this position varying according to the length of the not. As the wheel advances the projecting Surface on the outer end of the jaw 1G contacts with a fracturing element 12 mounted upon the frame 1. This effects a positive closing of the jaw 1G and likewise a uniform stroke thereof suicient to crack the nut; In the further advance of the wheel into substantially the position of wheel C of Fig. 1 a pin 5 carried h v the weight 4 of the wheel contacts With a stop 7 mounted on the fra-me 1. AS the main carrier advances this stop causes the wheel to rotate over the center, and the engagement of the pins (3 with slots 10 effects the reverse shifting of the wheel and the shaft 11. causing the jaws to open and release the cracked nut, the successive stages of movement of the wheel being indicated by D and E.

lVheel F is in the position in which the pocket. in the main carrier 2 receives a nut from a hopper 20. The nutvfeeding mechanism employed in this hopper formsno part of the present invention. It consists. however. of a chain convever 2l movable over sprockets 23 and adapted to deliver the nut to each of the pockets 9 in the main cari-ier 2 successivelyy as the respective pockets come into contact with the outlet from the hopper.

I claim as my invention: A 1. In a nut cracking machine, a main carrier, a plurality of nut receptacles movable individually on, and carried by, said carrier, and means carried by said carrier for shift# ing said receptacles bythe advance of said carrier,fsucli shifting movement effecting the clamping of the nuts, and means for cracking and releasing the nuts. f

2. In a nut cracking machine, a carrier comprising a wlieel,va plurality of nut receptacles comprising wheels freely rotatable upon, and bodily movable with, said carrier.i each of said wheels .being weighted to cause it to rotate relative to said carrier, and means for producing a shifting movement of said wheels` to successively effect the clamping, cracking and cleasing of the nuts. y

' 3. In a nut Icracking machine, a main rotary carrier, a plurality of wheels journaled in said carrier and constituting nut receptacles, said wheels being" each mounted to oscillate on said carrier and adapted to suc- Vrier,

cessively receive nuts; means for effecting the oscillation of` said wheels,r means for clamping the nut rendered effective by thevv movement of the wheel in one,v direction, means for cracking the nut,rand-means for releasing the cracked nut rendered eectivc by the movement of the wheel in the reverse direction.v Y i j 4L. In a nut cracking machine, amain cara rotary element mounted on said carliaving means foi-'effecting its rotation relative tosaid carrier, a shaft journaled in said carrier on' which said element is keyed, the extremity of said shaft forming a jaw, a second cti-acting jaw, the space intermediate said jaws being adapted to receive a nut, means for shifting said element laterally to clamp the nut between said jaws as said ele-V ment is rotating relative to its carrier, and means for further closing said jaws to crack the nut.

rier,

In anut cracking machine, afmain cai'- rier, a rotary element mounted on said carrier, -a shaft journaledin vsaid carrier on which said element is keyed, the extremity of said sliaftforming a jaw, a second co-acting jaw, the space intermediate said jaws being adapted to receive a nut', said element having a spiral slot in its surface, and a pin on salid main carrier adapted toV enter said slotto shift said element laterally to clamp the nut between said jaws, and means for further yclosing said jaws to crack the nut. Y i

6; Iii rier, a wheel mounted to -rotate onlsaid carrier andhaving means for effecting its relative rotation, a shaft journaled in said car- -i'ieron which said wheel is keyed, the eX- tremity of said shaft forming a jaw, a second co-acting jaw, means for shifting said wheel laterallyY to bring the. jaws together as the wheel is rotating relative to -its carrier, and a fixed stop with which. one of said jaws contacts in 'the advance of Vthe mainY carrier.

7. In a nut cracking machine, a Aframe having a stop, acarrier comprising a wheel, a plurality of nut receptacles comprising wheels rotatably mounted -upon,`and bodily movable with, said carrier, and meansmo'va nut cracking machine, a main caiable with said carrier fori oscillating saidY receptacles to successively clamp the nuts, said means including pins on said wheels adapted to contact with said stop.

8. In a nut cracking machine, a carrier, a

nut receptaclecomprising a wheel mounted to rot-ate on said carrier` said wheel having a pair of oppositelydisposed spiral slots and .said carrierhaving a pin ada ted to successively travel in said slots to e ect the f lateral shift of said wheel.

In testimony whereof, I specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

j JoHN w. ENRIGHT.

Witnesses SAMUEL MANFIE, FRANK KLEiNsGHMiDT.

have signed this 

